Sports
Top Footballers With Multiple Citizenship Who Opted To Represent Nigeria
By Balogun Kamilu Lekan
1. Calvin Bassey
Bassey dedicated his international future to Nigeria when he received a call-up for Nigeria’s 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in 2021.
On March 25, 2022, he made his debut for Nigeria in a 0-0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Ghana.
The Rangers defender was ultimately left out of the Nations Cup roster, but he still has a bright future with the national team.
Bassey, born in Italy, might have played for England at the senior level.
2. Joe Aribo
Joseph Oluwaseyi Temitope Ayodele-Aribo was born in Camberwell, South London.
He gained his first cap in 2019 and was part of their squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
At Rangers, he’s made strides under Steven Gerrard, and at 25, he has the potential to become an even more critical member of Nigeria’s national squad as they attempt to make an impact at in the team.
3. Peter Odemwingie
Odemwingie was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and was the first player born outside of England or Nigeria to represent the Super Eagles. He played 62 times for the national team.
He represented Nigeria at four Afcon tournaments, the Olympic Games, and two World Cups, scoring the game-winning goal against Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2014 to advance the Eagles to the knockout stages.
4. Ademola Lookman
Lookman was born in Wandsworth, South West London, to Nigerian parents. He has previously represented England youth international Lookman before opting to represent Nigeria.
FIFA granted his request to represent Nigeria in February 2022. Lookman made his Nigeria debut on March 25, 2022, in a barren tie with Ghana in the third round of African qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The star currently plays for Atalanta in the Italian Serie A.
5. William Troost-Ekong
Troost-Ekong, the most capped dual-nationality player in Nigerian history, has helped bring consistency and assurance to the backline, forming a strong relationship with Leon Balogun in the defence.
Troost-Ekong was born in the Netherlands to a Dutch mother and a Nigerian father, and he represented his country up to the U20 level.
Read more about William Troost-Ekong….
6. Ola Aina
Temitayo Olufisayo Olaoluwa Aina was born in Southwark, London, England. He has previously represented England at under-16, under-17, under-18, under-19 and England under-20 levels before he was called up to the Nigerian senior national team.
In May 2017, Aina pledged his international future to Nigeria and obtained a Nigerian passport in preparation for making the switch from England to Nigeria. In the same month, he was called up to the Eagles’ camp.
He was part of the Nigeria squad that won bronze in the 2019 Nations Cup.
7. Alex Iwobi
Iwobi played for England up to the under-18 level. He made his senior international debut for Nigeria in October 2015. He was a member of their squads at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2019 and 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, finishing third in the latter.
Iwobi was promptly named CAF Young Player of the Year in 2016.
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8. Carl Ikeme
Long-serving Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper who spent 15 years with the Old Gold and appeared to be Nigeria’s long-term replacement for Vincent Enyeama.
Unfortunately, his Super Eagles career was cut short after only ten games when he was stricken with leukaemia.
9. Maduka Okoye
Okoye, who was born in Germany, is the current Nigeria goalkeeper and appears to be headed for a lengthy career with the national team, having recently signed for Premier League Watford.
He will have to work hard to rebuild his reputation among Eagles fans after taking some of the blame for their elimination following his gaffe against Tunisia at the Afcon.
10. Leon Balogun
Balogun, born in Germany, opted to represent Nigeria but was injured on his international debut against Mexico and missed the 2014 World Cup.
He was part of Nigeria’s final 23-man team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in Russia.
Disclaimer
The information in this article was curated from online sources. NewsWireNGR or its editorial team cannot independently verify all details.
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